Socialism in America: What to know

Plus: Gun control and DNA |

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. SUBSCRIBE to TIME Magazine October 25, 2018 By Lily Rothman With the U.S. midterm elections approaching quickly, several high-profile candidates with links to democratic socialist ideas look likely to win office — a situation that would have been extremely surprising not too long ago, as any kind of socialism was once a major taboo in American politics. So what changed? TIME's Olivia B. Waxman took a look at the history of democratic socialism in the U.S., and you can click here to read all about it. Here's more of the history that made news this week: HISTORY ON TIME.COM How the Gun Control Act of 1968 Changed America's Approach to Firearms A historian explains how the U.S. was able to enact a federal gun control law in 1968, and why such a law would be hard to pass today. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Honored This Fijian War Hero Here's what to know about Talaiasi Labalaba, who helped his regiment survive a crucial Cold War proxy battle Do Presidents Make a Difference on the Midterm Campaign Trail? 'His intervention in the primaries was the most dramatic since the 1938 purge campaign,' one expert in presidential history says of President Trump's midterm season Sen. Warren's DNA and the History of Seeking Answers in Blood By the late 19th century the ideology of biological determinism had made its way into American law, where the politics of blood reigned Inside the Day That Turned Jacqueline Kennedy Into ‘Jackie O.’ "Reaction in the U.S. and abroad ranged from dismay to a kind of shocked ribaldry," TIME reported the following week FROM THE TIME VAULT 70 Years Ago: The Age of Psychiatry “Psychiatry is not yet 60 years old; it is the youngest and most controversial branch of medicine. But psychiatry's solemn clinical lingo has been snatched up, misused and overused by the man in the street. Parents and teachers speak knowingly of ‘inferiority complexes.’ The comic strips and the movies refer familiarly to ‘frustrations’ and ‘repressions.’ Psychiatry has been hotly debated and bitterly denounced by clerics (it seems to poach on their preserves), by Communists (it puts too much emphasis on the individual), by materialists (it claims that illness need not have a physical basis)—and even by some doctors.” (Oct. 25, 1948) Read the full story Today in 1999: A Week in High School “The vast majority of our kids, the ones we love and never read about, make it through high school intact, without incident. They do the reading and sing in the choir and bag groceries after school and buy the class T shirt and don't pierce anything below their ears. And yet everything that happens to them is huge. Everybody matters: the teacher who hoists students' ambitions up to meet their potential, or the one who just ignores whatever they say until they stop saying anything; the nurse who takes students into her home to keep them from falling apart; the classmate who teaches loyalty; the coach who instills some discipline. Sometimes the lessons inside the classroom are the least of it.” (Oct. 25, 1982) Read the full story This Week in 1941: Moscow Preps for War “A cold, frosty dawn broke over Moscow while the stars slowly died out. Automobiles, busses and tram cars already fill the streets with life, but now for the fourth day this is a different life from the one we ' were used to when Moscow was not only the heart of Russia and the most beautiful city, but also the cradle of all that is best in the Russian genius. Moscow has taken to arms. Moscow is preparing to fight. A Russian radio announcer spoke thus from Moscow. If Moscow is Russia's heart, the ancient 19-towered fortress of the Kremlin is Moscow's heart. At a desk in a long room at the heart of the Kremlin, a grey-shocked big-chested man sat, making decisions. In Joseph Stalin's tough heart was locked Russia's future.” (Oct. 27, 1941) Read the full story HIGHLIGHTS FROM AROUND THE WEB Getting Angry Historian Joanne Freeman has written an op-ed for The Atlantic about why history suggests that the “politics of rage” could backfire on modern Republicans who have embraced it as a tactic. What Churchill Really Thought In the new issue of Smithsonian magazine, Andrew Roberts writes about how Winston Churchill, though better known for his deep cooperation with Franklin Roosevelt, was more critical of his ally than it seemed. The Saboteur This obituary of anti-Nazi saboteur Joachim Ronneberg, by Robert D. McFadden for the New York Times, is equal parts gripping adventure tale and significant history lesson. Old Master Here’s a little art history: Benjamin Sutton writes for Artsy about the 17th century baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi, and why the art market is suddenly so interested in her work. She’s First This week, Olivette Otele became the first known black woman ever to hold the title of history professor in the U.K.; here, Quartz’s Cassie Werber highlights the news. To Unsubscribe Unsubscribe here if you do not want to receive this newsletter. Update Email Click here to update your email address. Privacy Policy Please read our Privacy Policy. TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For Further Communication Please email history@time.com TIME Customer Service 3000 University Center Drive Tampa, FL 33612-6408 Connect with TIME Find TIME on Facebook Follow TIME on Twitter Subscribe to more TIME Newsletters Get TIME on your Mobile Device Get TIME on your iPad Subscribe to RSS Feed